More than 50 handguns, shotguns, rifles, high-powered assault rifles, hundreds of rounds of assorted ammunition including a case clearly labeled "NATO," throwing knives, bayonets, an inert bomb, and a 50-pound bag of black powder were laid out on a green tarp in front of the house at the end of a quarter-mile long dirt driveway.

Armed with a search warrant, the entire Barnstable Police Department's detective division, members of the Barnstable County Sheriff's Department Crime Scene Investigation Unit, and members of the state police bomb squad descended yesterday on the 13-acre property and rundown home owned by Kenneth Webster Jr.

Neighbors said they had no idea about the arsenal that was being kept at the home, which sat partially boarded up, amid piles of trash and debris. A satellite dish on the side of the house served as the only outward sign of habitation.

Webster, 44, who has a history of mental illness, according to court records, was arrested at the property at about 11 a.m. yesterday, Barnstable police Detective Sgt. John Murphy Jr. said.

Webster faces 10 counts of illegal gun possession without a license and one count of illegal possession of ammunition. Murphy said more charges are sure to follow. It is unclear whether federal charges will be brought by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, which is involved in the case, according to police.

"We had no idea," Murphy said. "We had probable cause to suspect (Webster had weapons), but no one believed it was of this magnitude."

Police located Webster, who does not have a license for his firearms, at his parents' home on Wakeby Road yesterday morning and he voluntarily and "politely" accompanied them to the Falmouth Road property for the search, Murphy said.

Webster told officers he had no weapons but was placed under arrest after that was found to be false. Police said they do not believe there are more weapons stashed in any of small buildings on Webster's property or at his parents' house. They said weapons were found in his trailer, house and parked cars.

The search warrant executed yesterday stemmed from a July 1 incident in which officers arrested Webster while attempting to serve him with a restraining order.

His wife, who is separated from Webster and has not lived on the Falmouth Road property in more than a year and half, filed the order in Plymouth Probate Court, Murphy said of the woman who now lives in Plymouth. Murphy said he did not have any details on the restraining order other than the document stating Webster was known to possess weapons.

On July 1, officers went to Webster's parents' Wakeby Road home to serve the restraining order but he was not there, Murphy said.

While at the Marstons Mills Cash Market that day, Webster identified himself from his vehicle and asked whether the officers were looking for him, Murphy said.

Webster then began acting strangely, refusing to exit his vehicle or to show his hands. At the time, he was wearing several knives around his waist and told police he did not have a gun, according to court records.

Barnstable police Officers Scott Wright, Kevin Donovan and Sgt. Mark Mellyn later found a loaded 9 mm Derringer pistol in the front pocket of Webster's pants, according to court records. The Derringer was one of five handguns found to be in his possession at the time, along with $16,125, according to court records.

Webster, who is not employed, told police during the July 1 incident that he didn't need a gun permit because the U.S. Constitution gives him the right to bear arms, Murphy said.

Charges from Webster's July 1 arrest include four counts of carrying a firearm without a license, two counts of possession of a firearm without a Firearm Identification Card, and carrying a dangerous weapon.

Webster pleaded not guilty to the charges and was released on $10,000 cash bail July 2. He posted half of the bail himself and his mother, Barbara, posted the rest, according to court documents. Webster was scheduled to appear in Barnstable District Court for a pretrial hearing yesterday.

They watched his movements through limited surveillance as they worked to get a search warrant for his property for two weeks.

The warrant was finally received last Wednesday, and officers began day surveillance of Webster and constant surveillance of his parents' house in preparation for serving the warrant, Murphy said. They wanted to approach Webster after he had left his home for fear that he might turn his guns on officers.

"This is not an area where police would want to go," Murphy said between junked cars on Webster's property. "He could sit up on his roof and we wouldn't be able to get within a half mile of here."

Webster is believed to have lived on the property for some time, police said. A deceased friend willed the property to Webster, Murphy said. He is known to have lived previously in Florida and Maine, according to police and court documents. Police are confident Webster does not have a firearms license in either of those states.

"He was just a kid," said neighbor John Pina, 88. "He was quiet but he seemed nice. I didn't know all that was down there."

Pina said Webster told him he had previously worked in law enforcement. Murphy said that he too had heard that Webster claimed to be a summer officer in Falmouth, however, the police sergeant couldn't confirm or deny the claim last night.

Webster was never a full-time police officer nor is he a former military officer, Murphy said.

Police do not yet know where Webster purchased all of his guns.

Webster is scheduled for arraignment in Barnstable District Court this morning. Police expect to be at his home throughout the week cataloging weapons, Murphy said.